THE RICHEST RAPPER IN THE WORLD...BEATS BY DRE TO BE PURCHASED BY APPLE FOR 3.2 BILLION DOLLARS

WEST SIDE!!...Apple is reportedly buying Beats Electronics, the audio equipment and music-streaming service co-created by hip-hop mogul Dr Dre. With a deal, Apple also would gain control of the Beats headphones, for which the company is well known. 

Iovine and Dr. Dre started Beats in 2008 as people used iPods and smartphones to listen to more music on the go. The pair marketed the devices aggressively, showing the high-end headphones as stylish accessories for the general public and not just audiophiles.

The Financial Times broke the news of the reported deal which, at $3.2 billion, will be Apple’s largest ever.  Apple and Beats declined to comment on the report. Why splurge on Beats, which can cost more than $300? Part of the reason: the cool factor. Despite the hefty price tag, the headphones, a streetwise fashion statement with a signature “B” on the ear, are as popular with teens as they are with celebrities.

Not to mention the “Dre” in “Beats by Dre” is Andre Young, better known as Dr. Dre. The Washington Post’s Soraya McDonald has a refresher:

He helped popularize West Coast gangsta rap, especially a sub-genre called G-funk, and was one of the founding members of NWA (Niggaz With Attitude). His 1992 debut solo record, “The Chronic,” is a classic within the hip-hop pantheon. He’s also credited with launching the careers of Eminem and 50 Cent when he signed them to his record label, Aftermath Entertainment. His is the sort of cool that doesn’t fade in the wash.

So if you don't know now you know....The deal could also be Apple’s entrée into the streaming business, where it has recently experimented with limited success.  Read More Click Now

STYLE SPOTLIGHT "YOU BETTA WERK" 44 YEAR OLD JENNIFER LOPEZ SEXY RED BEC & BRIDGE MINI DRESS

 Forever HoT! The 5ft 5ins singer-actress boosted her height in towering nude stilettos.  Jennifer Lopez was spotted backstage ahead of the ‘American Idol Season 13: Top 4 To 3′ live elimination show on Thursday (May 8) in Hollywood, California.

The judge wore a Bec & Bridge ‘Isis Angle’ dress with plenty of architectural appeal from the Resort 2014 collection, featuring a T-back and asymmetrical hemline. Colour corrected: J-Lo fiddled with her luxuriant dark locks that have honey blonde highlights.

Dialling down the bling, she also styled the look with nude Louboutin pumps, opting to match her lips with the dress which surely turned up e heat in the studio.  And get this the dress only retails for $250.00 but unfortunately it's sold out.

Host Ryan Seacrest revealed on Wednesday that auditions for season 14 start on June 18 and will hit up each of the judges' hometowns – New York, Nashville and New Orleans.

That's opportune as People reported the same day that Jennifer, Keith and Harry are set to return to the American Idol judges table next season, although Fox has yet to confirm the information. A source told People the new Dream Team has had a 'fantastic' experience on the reality competition.

RIHANNA CLEANS UP IN A PRETTY IN PINK MOMENT WEARING DIOR

 Oh..the Innocent's of Rihanna...NOT! The 26-year-old was decked out in Dior including a pink quilted silk dress, Lady Dior bag, “Diorific” necklace, and heels.  Rihanna turned heads and flashed some butt crack in a revealing dress at the Met Gala after-party. But the fashionista toned down her look while attending the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 fashion show at Brooklyn Navy Yard on Wednesday.

She arrived promptly at 7 p.m. and grabbed a front row seat alongside actresses Marion Cotillard, Margot Robbie, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Leelee Sobieski.

Her trip to Brooklyn was not unusual. “You know what, I spent most of my summers in Brooklyn,” RiRi told WWD. “All my life, I grew up coming to Brooklyn. My late grandma and my granddad lived in Brooklyn. He still lives here. So I do make it to Brooklyn a bit whether it’s to see the game or to see my family.”

Later that night...following her front row appearance at the Christian Dior Resort 2015 show in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday, Rihanna was spotted courtside at the 2014 NBA playoffs between the Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat held at American Airlines Arena on Thursday (May 8) in Miami, Florida.

The singer wore a Bernhard Willhelm Spring 2014 light-blue embroidered bomber jacket with ‘Fly United’ printed on the collar and cuffs, styled with matching shorts and a simple white tee.

QUEEN LATIFAH TO PLAY BI-SEXUAL BLUES SINGER

So we know this role won't be a stretch...Queen Latifah signs on to play notoriously bi-sexual blues singer Bessie Smith in a new bio-pic…

According to Deadline HBO just green lit a project from Queen Latifah's Flava Unit based on blues icon Bessie Smith.

Speculation over Smith's sexuality was frequent gossip column fodder in the 1920s and 30s. 

 Legendary blues singer Bessie Smith is buried near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1937. Some 7,000 mourners attended her funeral. 

Smith had been killed a few days before when the old Packard she was driving hit a parked truck near Coahoma, Mississippi, between Clarksdale and Memphis. There is no record of Smith's exact birth date, but she was about 43 years old.

The untitled film will be written and directed by Dee Rees, the filmmaker behind 2010 indie darling 'Pariah.'

ALICIA KEYS NAMED NEW FACE OF GIVENCHY PERFUME

This girl is still on fire...According to WWD, the “Girl on Fire” will begin appearing in ads for an undisclosed Givenchy fragrance in September.

“I’m honored to introduce the world to the newest scent by Givenchy,” said Keys. “Givenchy has long been one of the world’s most iconic luxury fashion houses, and a personal favorite of mine.”

This marks Keys’ first beauty contract. She has previously landed endorsements with Reebok, BlackBerry, and American Express.

Past Parfums Givenchy spokespeople have included Justin Timberlake, Liv Tyler, Uma Thurman, and Amanda Seyfried.

In addition to contributing “It’s On Again” for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack, Keys has been in the studio with Pharrell and Swizz Beatz working on her new album.

BOO GAZING: CELEBS OUT: MICHELLE OBAMA, KIM KARDASHIAN, MARIAH CAREY, USHER, JOHNNY DEPP & MORE

First Lady Michelle Obama join the #BringBackOurGirls movement, she tweeted "Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It's time to #BringBackOurGirls. -mo"

Mariah Carey is certainly pulling out all the stops to get people talking. The 44-year-old nearly spilled out of her very low-cut, figure-hugging frock as she arrived at David Letterman's studio in New York City.

Friends in high places! Kim Kardashian found herself in the elite company of President Barack Obama as she showed her support for survivors of the Armenian genocide at the USC Shoah Foundation 20th Anniversary Ambassadors For Humanity Gala in LA on Wednesday night.

Golden girl: Rita dazzled in this Emilio Pucci gown on the red carpet at Gabrielle's Gala.

Wendy Raquel Robinson and Hosea Chanchez arrive at the Independent School Alliance For Minority Affairs Impact Awards Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

A night after attending the glam Met Gala, Johnny Depp and fiancée Amber Heard are at it again, stepping out for Spike TV's Don Rickles: One Night Only event in N.Y.C.

Making friends in high places: Khloe Kardashian's beau, rapper French Montana, cuddled up to Kris Jenner in an Instagram snap she posted on Wednesday,  after he was left off Kim and Kanye West's wedding guest list .

Usher stops by the set of Extra in Hollywood, California.

Serena Williams celebrates after winning her women's singles second round tennis match against Chinese player Peng Shuai at the Madrid Masters at the Magic Box (Caja Magica) sports complex in Madrid.

Halle Berry plays an astronaut in the TV series Extant, but she arrives on the show's L.A. set on Wednesday looking down to earth.

AGAIN..NEW REAILTY SHOW HOLLY WOOD DIVA'S (GOLDEN BROOKS, ELISE NEAL, COUNTESS VAUGHN & OTHERS)

YAWN..Z.Z...Z , were so over this format! Golden Brooks, Elise Neal, Paula Jai Parker, Lisa Wu and Countess Vaughn Join Cast

TV One is expanding their hit ‘Diva’ franchise (R&B Divas: Atlanta, R&B Divas: L.A.), adding to the mix, “Hollywood Divas,” a reality series set the follow the lives of five black actresses looking to remain relevant in the ever-changing and unpredictable world of Hollywood.

Elise Neal (The Hughleys), Golden Brooks (Girlfriends), Countess Vaughn (Moesha/The Parkers), Paula Jai Parker (The Wayans Brothers) and Lisa Wu (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) have all signed on to star in the show, which is presently shooting in Los Angeles.

“Hollywood Divas” will debut in the fall, and will reportedly be joined by several other reality shows, also with a strong focus on the lives of African American women.

TV One, like Centric, is rumored to be specifically targeting the black female market, which has made shows like “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and Love & Hip-Hop huge hits for Bravo and VH-1.

TRYA BANKS & CHRISSY TEIGEN ATTEND FLAWSOME BALL..BENEFITING LOWER EAST SIDE GIRLS

 Exotic beauties: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girls 40 year old  Tyra Banks and 28 year old Chrissy Teigen both opted to rock strapless gowns at the Flawsome Ball in Manhattan Tuesday. The two-time Emmy winner is famed for bringing self-coined terms like 'smize,' 'booty tooch,' and 'flawsome' to the mainstream.

So it was easy for Banks to name her latest bash for the TZONE Foundation program, which benefits the Lower Eastside Girls Center.

'Flaws are awesome – so, "flawsome!" I love making up a word,' Tyra told People magazine on Monday.

 The former talk show host was joined by her mother Carolyn London, who was once reportedly a NASA photographer.

Also at the soiree was Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi looking stunning in Navy as always in a figure-hugging blue halter gown.

Trya Flipino dress designed by Francis Libiran fashioned out of Gold leather is not that flattering in our opinion, but as always Trya gives good face. 

  

BEYONCE INSTAGRAM FASHION "RICHIE'S AALIYAH TRIBUTE SWEATER SHIRT"

Beyoncé recently posted to her Instagram wearing a $179 Revolution Riche's Aaliyah Tribute Sweatshirt. Aaliyah passed away August 2001 and it seems like yesterday when I saw the breaking news scrolling on the bottom of the t.v. Although her life was taken away so soon, her music continues to live on. What better way to give tribute to such a beautiful and talented person?!?!?!

Bey paired her look with red leather pants with zippered pockets, gold chunky necklace, vest, side braid, and black sunglasses.

There were only 50 of these made that was released earlier this year. The hand painted sweatshirt was priced at $179 and the sold out very quickly.

Unfortunately, Beyonce's style is sold out. Check out a similar style below:

The Aaliyah tribute shirt is also available in short sleeves for $119.

APOLLO NIDA PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL, WIRE & BANK FRAUD...READ FULL PRESS RELEASE

Well he will no longer have to worry about storyline since he will be watching from behind bars.  According to an inditment that was handed down yesterday. Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Apollo Nida pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud. Nida is heading back to prison.

Last month, a federal judge sentenced Nida’s female accomplice, Gayla St. Julien, to 5 years and 1 month in a federal prison.

In his court appearance today, Apollo blamed himself for his legal troubles. “It was a dumb situation I put myself in,” he said.

Apollo left prison in 2009 after serving 5 years on federal racketeering charges connected with an auto theft ring. He married local attorney Phaedra Parks, who was cast in the reality series Real Housewives of Atlanta that same year.

Nida said Phaedra’s reality show paycheck ($600,000) put pressure on him to keep up with her because she was making more money than him. He claimed he told Phaedra that his income was derived from his legitimate debt recovery business. He claims he kept her in the dark about his illegal side hustles.

Apollo said he didn’t think about whether he was hurting anybody because he was ripping off banks and federal institutions, not individuals.

“It’s my fault at the end of the day,” he said. “I got sucked in and engulfed and lost sight of things.” Apollo will be sentenced in July.

Here is the press release announcing Apollo Nida’s guilty plea from the Justice.gov website:

Apollo E. Nida has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail, wire and bank fraud in a complex scheme spanning over four years, harming over 50 victims, and causing over $2.3 million in losses.

“This defendant participated in a sweeping fraud scheme that exploited many segments of the financial system, including phony claims submitted to federal and state agencies, loans secured by vehicles, and even basic identity theft associated with stolen checks,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “The extensive nature of the fraud is unfortunate and breathtaking. Prosecutions like this case help to highlight the vulnerabilities in the financial system, so that we can prevent future schemes and protect our citizens and government agencies from theft like this.”

“Nida and his conspirators were conniving and creative in their scheme to steal victims’ identities and defraud them. The United States Secret Service will continue to adapt its investigative methodologies to arrest criminals who use their technological savvy to violate unsuspecting victims such as those in this case,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.

READ FULL STATEMENT CLICK NOW

INSIDE MET BALL 2014 CELEBS SNAP CANDID PHOTOS: BEYONCE, KIM & KANYE, RIHANNA, LUPITA & MORE

FASHION...FASHION...& MORE FASHION celebs such as Jay-Z and Beyonce, Kimye and others snap candid photos inside Fashion Superbowl Met Gala 2014. Take a look at some of the candid photos below: 

 Worst dress of the evening, Lupita, Beyonce, and Solange...I can't believe we have to say this

Collaboration on the cards? Pro-snowboarder Shaun White posted a picture with Solange and her fellow singers Janelle Monae and Miguel.

Kendall Jenner & Kim Kardashian

La La & Carmelo Anthony

Golden girl: Rihanna wow a daring dress as she attended the Up & Down for its 2014 Met Gala Afterparty in New York City on Monday.